Does training the parents improve foal potential?

The decision, step by step

1. Separate the three numbers

   A trained horse can perform better today without becoming a better genetic match. Read potential for the foal’s athletic ceiling and Confidence for the mare’s contribution to its starting Confidence.

   More columns → Scroll sideways, or focus the table and use arrow keys.

   What to improve before a cover

   Value	What it changes	Breeding action
   Current strength / endurance	The parent’s present training and performance	Do not max these just to raise foal potential
   Strength / endurance potential	Inputs to the foal’s two potential rolls	Compare both parents and both stats
   Mare’s Confidence at cover	The foal’s starting Confidence	Raise it before covering the mare

2. Compare two versions of the same parent

   Suppose a horse has exact potential 70 strength / 60 endurance. Training current values from 20 / 20 to 60 / 50 does not replace the genetic inputs of 70 / 60. If the other parent, relationship and Inheritance effects stay the same, the potential calculation stays the same. This is an explanation of the reported mechanism, not a playtest result.

3. Prepare Confidence before conception

   Select the mare and use the confidence-building activities available to her, such as scratching her favourite spot, treats and Confidence Training. Scritches and treats have daily limits; Confidence Training can be repeated within the horse’s safe exercise allowance; if one stops adding Confidence, use another available activity or continue on another day. Finish the Confidence preparation before the cover. For example, Confidence 80 contributes a starting value of 40 before any Good Mom bonus.

4. Read Good Mom and Inheritance as different effects

   Good Mom changes starting values: the launch guide reports starting strength and endurance of 15 instead of 10, plus 5 starting Confidence. Good Inheritance and Bad Inheritance affect potential rolls. Do not substitute one trait for the other when comparing parents.

5. Decide whether it is worth waiting

   If the only unfinished preparation is current strength/endurance training, you do not need to wait for it to reach potential. Wait if the mare’s starting-Confidence contribution matters to you, if the parents are not eligible today, or if you need room and care resources for the foal. If she is already pregnant, care for this foal and apply the Confidence preparation before a future cover.

If the result is different

If a foal starts at low current strength or endurance, do not conclude that its potential is low: starting training and potential are different. If it starts with less Confidence than expected, check what the mare had on cover day, not what she has now, and whether Good Mom was present.